Filtering means for air supply devices



Dec. 4, 1951 y T. A; cioNl- EY FILTERING MEANS Foa AIR SUPPLY DEVICES Filed Feb. 15, 1950 J 'Ali .l

25a. Z6 2.5 Z4' INVENTOK THOMAS A. CONLEY ATTO Patented Dec. 4, 1951 FILTERING MEANS FOR AIR SUPPLY 4 DEVICES Thomas A. Conley, Harrisville, R. I., assignor to American Optical Company,

Southbridge,

Mass., a voluntary association of Massachusetts Application February 15, 1950, Serial No. 144,357 1V Claims. (ci. 18s-45) f l l I This invention relates to air supply devicesof the type embodying means for supplying air under pressure to a personal protective device, and has particular reference to filters for use with such devices. f

' It is a principal object of this invention to provide filtering means positioned in an air line between an air supply device and a personal protective device for ltering impurities from the air passing through the air line, which filtering means is removably located in a sleeve kwhich is directly connected to the air line, the sleeve being of flexible material for snugly enclosing thev ltering means to insure that all air passes through the filtering means before being delivered to the personal protective device.

Another object is to provide a ltering device of the above character in which the flexible sleeve enclosingthe filtering means is directly connected on one side to the air line and is provided on its opposed side with a circumferential groove -for receiving the peripheral edge of a removable adapter which is connected to the opposite side of the air line, the groove, together with the inherent resiliency of the material of the sleeve, providing means whereby the adapter is securely attached and air sealed to the sleeve.

Another object is to provide a device of the above character in which the inlet and outlet vents are disposed eccentrically of the device and in opposed relation with one another to permit the adjacent portions ofthe air line connected thereto to be maintained in a positionrclose to thev body of the user when in position of use such as when attached to portions of the users wearing apparel. y

Other objects and advantages of the invention are to provide a device of the abovecharacter which is relatively simple in construction, eilicient in operation, and comparatively economical to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages of the inventiony will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which: y

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a device embodying the invention; and

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view of a fllter.

personal protective device such as a respirator, sand blast helmet, paint spray hood or the like, the air must necessarily pass through an air line or hose connecting the compressor with the protective device. Air supplied through these lines from air compressors or the like may contain lubricating oil mist, moisture or solid debris such as scale and dust, which impurities are harmful if breathed by the user of the respirator. Therefore, it is important that these impurities be filtered from the air before being supplied for respiratory use. Prior devices for accomplishing this have been generally embodied a casing of substantially rigid material enclosing filter media, which casing sometimes ineciently encloses the media whereby impure air may pass around the media.

To overcome the foregoing objections, the present invention discloses means and method of providing filtering means which is located preferably on the low pressure side of the air flow regulating valve which is inserted in the air line, and comprises broadly a casing of pliable material characterized by its ability to snugly encompass the lter media, thereby insuring that all air flowing from the compressor is ltered before passing to the protective device.

Referring more particularly to the drawing wherein like characters of reference designate like parts throughout the several views, the invention is embodied in an air supply system comprising a personal protective device I0 in the form of a mask II preferably formed of pliable material such as molded rubber or the like and shaped to fit over a portion of the face of a user and held in position of use on the users head by a headband I2. The mask I0 is provided with conventional exhalation means I3 and has connected thereto one end of a iiexible hose I4 which forms a part of an air line leading to an air supply plant (not shown) suchas a compressor. The hose I iis normally connected to a second hose I5 by suitable coupling means and in this instance the coupling takes the form of a conventional valve I6 for controlling the ow of air through the air line to the mask I0. The valve I6 is provided with opposed tubular conduit portions I'I leading therefrom, one of the portions I'I being secured to one end of the hose I5, which hose I5 is conbodies a flexible filter retainer or casing I9 formed of molded rubber or similar pliable elastic material. It is to be understood here that the casing I9 may be directly connected to the hose I5 by eliminating the valve I6 if desired.

The casing I9 is shaped to receive therein la lter cartridge 2Q. A preferred form of cartridge comprises a canister 2l having opposed inlet and outlet openings 22 and 23 respectively in its sides for permitting air to pass therethrough, the air stream being indicated by the arrows finFig. 2.

' fout the v.necessity of tools for the purpose by The wall on the inlet side of the canister 2| is provided with a plurality of inwardly directed lugs 2 Ia against which is adapted to be seated a perforated sheet 2t of aluminum or similar metal,

which sheet is positioned over the entrance openings 22. In superimposed relation with the rnetal. i,

sheet 24 and on the inner side thereof yis positioned a sheet of foraminous fabric material Thus, ,air entering the canister from the valve I6 must pass through the sheets 24 and 25 which serve to partially filter the air. As the air passes through the remaining portion Aof the canister 2 I,it is'further purifiedby a supply ef activated` charcoal 25 which, for best results, is v*preferably ground to a mesh within the range Aof from 7 to 14. While charcoal is -used in the present eXam-.

ing outwardly through the `outlet opening 2.3 yby' a barrier formed Vof* superimposed sheets of perforated 'metal and. foraminous fabricV 24a and 25a respectively .similar to the sheets 24 and 25 adjacent the inlet openings 22.

VThe-outlet side of the canister `2| is. shaped with a peripheral flange or rim 2l which is adapted tofbe positioned within na comati'ng` groove formed. in the 4pliable-casing I8, which casing is adapted, due to its 'inherentelasticity to tsnugly 'aroundthe canister to prevent leakage of air therebetween. The inlet side -of the casing i 8 is provided with an integral, outwardly extending Vsleeve portion 28 which is adapted to t over the conduit portion II of the valve IG, or over the end of the hose I5, so that air passing fromf-the hose I5 -will be directed into the-canister 2I. Means such Vasa circumferential `ridge 219 is formed ,on the conduit portion H in the area enclosed by the sleeve 28 to aid in retaining the sleeve 28 in position on the conduit portion VII.

The outlet side of the casing i8 is provided with an internal circumferential groove I8a which is adapted to receive the peripheral edge of a disclike adapter 3B which is used" to connectl the. filtering means'with the exible hose I4 leading.

to the mask lil. The adapter 3Q is formed with a tubular yextension 3-I which is shaped to be positioned within the lend of the hose le and which is provided `with a circumferential ridge l32 theretionship at one side of the longitudinal axis orr With such eccentric cons struction the portions of the hoses I4 and I5 adjacenter of the device.

cent the valve It and ltering device I8 can be merely flexing the material of the casing to permit removal of the adapter 3D and cartridge 2l] whereupon another cartridge can be easily inserted and retained inV place by the adapter Sil. From the foregoing it will be seen that all of the 4objects and advantages of the invention have been accomplished by providing simple, eicient and economical means for incorporating improved ltering means :in an air line used for purifying air being transmitted from a Vcompressor or the like to a personal protective device such as a face mask.

Y While the novel features of the invention have been Vshown and described and are pointed out in the annexedclaims, itwill be understood .that manychangesmay be made in the details of construction Vshown and described without departing from the spirit of the invention. I, therefore, Ado not wish to'be limited to the exact details Yshown and described vas the' preferred only are set forth by way of illustration.

1. Adeviice of the character described comprising'filtering means embodying acanister having an opening in each side communicating with the interiorthereof, and filtering media within said canister for purifying air passing therethrough, a hose `for directing air to said filtering means, a second hose for conduction of air passing from said filtering means, meansfor attaching said filtering means to said hoses comprising -a casing of pliablelmaterial partially enclosing said canister,'ilnterfitting means on said canister andsaid casing for causing the casing to closelyV encompass thecanister to prevent leakage of air therebetween, an internal groove formed circumferentially in said casing, :and a disc-like adapter having its peripheral edge closely intertting with saidV groove-for further enclosing said filtering means,y said casing having connection means on the side thereof opposite theadapter and connected tooneof vsaid hoses, andsaid adapter having .connection means connected withthe other of saidv hoses whereby air is permitted to pass from said first hose directly to said filtering means and. from said ltering means -directly to said second hose.

2. A devicey ofthe character described comprising filtering means embodying a canister having an opening in each side communicating with the interior. thereof, andv filtering media within said canister for purifying air passing therethrough, a hose for directing airv to said filtering means, a second hose for conduction of .air passing from said. ltering means, `means for attaching said filtering means to said hoses comprising a casing of pliable material partially enclosing said canister., interfittingV means on said canister and said casing for causing the casingto'closely encompass the canister to prevent leakage of air therebetween, an internal groove formed circumferentially in said casing, and `a disc-like adapter havingl itsperipheral edge closely intertting with said groove for further enclosing said 'iiltering means, said casing having connection means on the side thereof opposite the adapter and connected to one of said hoses, and said adapter having connection means connected with the other of said hoses whereby air is permitted to pass from said first hose directly to said filtering means and from said iiltering means directly to said second hose, said connection means on the casing and the connection means on the adapter being positioned in opposed relation and eccentrically spaced with respect to the longitudinal axis of the filtering means.

3. In an air supply system embodying means for supplying air under pressure through a first hose and a second hose to a personal protective device, filtering means embodying a canister having an opening in each side communicating with the interior thereof, and filtering media within said canister for purifying air passing therethrough, means for attaching said filtering means to said hoses comprising a casing of pliable material partially enclosing said canister, interfitting means on said canister and said casing for causing the casing to closely encompass the canister to prevent leakage of air therebetween, an internal groove formed circumferentially in said casing, and a disc-like adapter having its peripheral edge closely interfltting with said groove for further enclosing said filtering means, said casing having connection means on the side thereof opposite the adapter and connected to one of said hoses, and said adapter having connection means formed thereon connected with the other of said hoses whereby air is permitted to pass from said rst hose directly to said ltering means and from said filtering means directly to said second hose.

4. In an air supply system embodying means for supplying air under pressure through a first hose and a second hose to a personal protective device, filtering means embodying a canister having an opening in each side communicating with the interior thereof, and filtering media within said canister for purifying air passing therethrough, means for attaching said filtering means to said hoses comprising a casing of pliable material partially enclosing said canister, intertting means on said canister and said casing for causing the casing to closely encompass the canister to prevent leakage of air therebetween, an internal groove formed circumferentially in said casing, and a disc-like adapter having its peripheral edge closely intertting with said groove for further enclosing said filtering means, said casing having connection means on the side thereof opposite the adapter and connected to one of said hoses, and said adapter having connection means formed thereon connected with the other of said hoses whereby air is permitted to pass from said first hose directly to said filtering means and from said filtering means directly to said second hose, said connection means on the casing and the connection means on the adapter being positioned in opposed relation and eccentrically spaced with respect to the longitudinal axis of the filtering means.

5. A device of the character described comprising filtering means embodying a canister having an opening in each side communicating with the interior thereof, and filtering media within said canister for purifying air passing therethrough, a casing member partially enclosing said canister, a cover member having its peripheral portion detachably connected with the casing member for completing the enclosure of said canister, and intertting means on said canister and one of said members for causing said member to closely encompass the canister to prevent leakage of air therebetween, said casing member having connection means communicating with one side of the ltering media for connection with a rst hose and said cover member having connection means communicating with the opposed side of said filtering media for connection with a second hose whereby air is permitted to pass from one hose through said filterf ing means to the other hose when in connected relation therewith.

6. A device of the character described comprising filtering means embodying a canister having an opening in each side communicating with the interior thereof, and iiltering media within said canister for purifying air passing therethrough, a casing partially enclosing said canister, interitting means on said canister and said casing for causing the casing to closely encompass the canister to prevent leakage of air therebetween, an internal groove formed circumferentially in said casing, and a cover member having its peripheral portion closely interfitting with said groove for further enclosing said filtering means, said casing having connection means communicating with one side of the filtering media for connection with a first hose and said cover member having connection means communicating with the opposed side of said filtering media for connection with a second hose whereby air is permitted to pass from one hose through said filtering means to the second hose when in connected relation therewith.

7. In an air supply system embodying means for supplying air under pressure through a rst hose and a second hose to a personal protective device, -ltering means embodying a canister having an opening in each side communicating with the interior thereof, filtering media within said canister for purifying air passing therethrough and means for attaching said ltering means to said hoses comprising a casing enclosing said canister and including a cover member detachably connected therewith together with interfitting means on said canister and said casing for causing the casing to closely encompass the canister to prevent leakage of air therebetween, said cover member having connection means communicating with one side of the filtering media for connection with one hose and said casing having further connection means communicating with the opposed side of said filtering media for connection with the other hose whereby air is permitted to pass from said first hose through said filtering means to the second hose.

THOMAS A. CONLEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 767,859 Ballance et al. Aug. 16, 1904 2,010,424 Willson et al. Aug. 6, 1935 2,102,037 Schwartz Dec. 14, 1937 2,316,832 Aghnides Apr. 20, 1943 

